The objective of this paper is to discuss current conceptualizations of heritage, contrasting them with concrete empirical referents. The relevant modifications affecting cultural heritage problems, their conceptualization as social construction and their definition as cultural heritage have expanded the analysis and led to a deeper investigation of other heritage dimensions. In a sense, the concept has been democratized ; regardless of the changes operated, generated and accepted among scholars and international agencies, public authorities are slowly absorbing it. Also, a contrast of current definitions with concrete empirical referents (somehow deviating from those traditionally included in the heritage category) allows to understand that certain problematic nodes in heritage treatment belong to the criteria on which heritage has been and is being constructed. The effectiveness of the democratization of the concept, therefore, becomes doubtful to the extent that the foundations of the definitions are not discussed.